7 December 2020 09:44 am
Police launched special operations in Colombo, Gampaha districts and in suburbs in order to apprehend night street racers, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.
This move came following the recent tragic accident in Egodauyana, where two children were killed and their mother critically injured, when a speeding motorcycle driven by a reckless driver had crashed into them.
DIG Rohana said it was observed that mostly youngsters are engaged in street racing, using cars and motorcycles specially during night time by violating road rules and regulations.
He said the Mirihana Police received information about an unofficial race of motorbikes in Kimbulawala Junction on Sunday.
Accordingly, the police have taken 24 motorbikes into custody along with riders engaged in street racing. He said the police will file charges against the riders for violation of traffic rules and regulations.
In the future, the law will be strictly enforced against such persons and they will be produced before psychiatrists on court orders. Necessary steps will be taken to stop such new emerging subcultures immediately, DIG Rohana said.
"It has been observed that they ride motorbikes or they drive cars in the night for their entertainment. However, in the end, we are losing valuable lives. And apart from that, sometimes the victims sustain serious injuries. So therefore, the traffic police have been instructed to take appropriate action to conduct operations throughout the country in order to curtail this situation. And therefore, we would like to make a request from riders, especially the young people. You should not drive fast. Obey the road rules and regulations, especially in the night, don't break traffic rules or regulations," he said. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)